If you’ve had any exposure at all to social media this week, you will have heard the announcement from the World Health Organization that processed meat (especially and specifically BACON!) is cancer-causing. How seriously are we going to take this information? Not so seriously, as it turns out. Amanda is still clinging to sweet memories of a trough of room-service bacon; Catherine's buying her kids BLTs; and Terri has heard too many scare stories about favorite foods to take one about something so delicious seriously. We wondered at the difference between "raises your risk" and "causes," winced at the idea of how much snootier vegans will be now, and planned to listen to Jim Gaffigan's bacon monologue and take bacon as seriously as Ron Swanson (if that's even possible).

Next, inspired by Terri's nearly two hours in a traffic jam with her daughter in charge of the radio and her husband in full "These kids today with their rap and their dirty lyrics" dudgeon, we asked: How much does today's music enrage/amuse/bore us? Uptown Funk got our thumbs up, Selena Gomez's current hit our thumbs down, and the repeating repeating repeating of the same songs our thumbs in our ears. We wound up reminiscing about the old days when MTV played music videos and we could still believe that 17-year-olds know about heartbreak. (We were that young once, right?)

Finally, we moved on to our recommendations for the week: Catherine shared an article she wrote about how to add more vegetables to your family’s daily diet (with advice for beginner, intermediate, and expert levels!), Amanda passed on a Wired article delightfully titled "Bacon Causes Cancer? Sort of. Not Really. Ish," and Terri offered some assistance for your next great dietary dilemma -- what to do with all that Halloween candy.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episode and Kristen Eredics for our happy in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

[This is an encore presentation of a Parenting Roundabout episode originally released on June 24, 2015. If you listened to it the first time, this is your second chance to follow up on all the resources and ideas mentioned that you just never quite got around to. And if you didn’t listen to it the first time -- hey, it's new to you! Either way, please listen and enjoy.]

Halloween, when horror movies rule, seemed like a good time to revisit a chat Terri had with Kathy Ceceri, who writes about homeschooling on the All About Homeschooling Facebook page and her site Crafts for Learning, about kids and scary movies. Is it a societal contradiction that we worry about kids playing alone outside but don't mind them sitting in front of shoot-'em-up video games for hours? Should Lego be making playsets for movies that kids aren't technically allowed to go to? Are making-of documentaries a good way to introduce kids to scary fare or just a way to ruin all the fun? What's more scary, slasher movies, zombies, or Fraggle Rock? Listen in for some thoughts on whether horror movies and other scary fare are going to break your kids or help them get into film school. You can find Kathy's article on a birthday-party horror spree on Wired; if you're reading this someplace without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout for the full recap experience.

It was Halloween theme night on Dancing With the Stars, as well as team-dance night, which provided lots of opportunities for the costume, hair, and makeup folks to show off. (Or not: what WAS that thing on Bindi's head in the group dance? Andy's contacts for his couples dance were indeed fantastically freaky, though.) We then moved on to other unsettling things -- like news of Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes and Chris Rock hosting the Oscars; or doing a sitcom live every week; or watching an actor you like in a show you hate. (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlnks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com. And if you're interested in watching Undateable Live, it's on Fridays at 8 p.m. on NBC, as I should have remembered to say on the episode.)

Parents who think their children's activities give them a second time around for childhood too are getting us hot under the collar this week. Nicole is particularly steamed at parents who turn a kid's Halloween costume into a family affair, and even have the nerve to get in on the trick or treating. Catherine thinks parents who want to make their kids' sports all about them need to bench themselves. And Terri's worried that maybe her enthusiastic support of her daughter's marching band crossed the line.

Speaking of parents needing to change their ways, we chatted a bit about the habits and traditions we can't quite let go of, from Christmas PJs to driving kids everywhere to hanging on to work habits more appropriate to a college student than a creaky old mom. Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week: Catherine suggested you check out her article on 10 Things You Can Do to Fix Youth Sports if you're bugged by those over-involved parents or might be one; Nicole advocated for submarine parenting rather than the helicopter variety; and Terri wondered whether you've tried The List App (follow her @mamatude if you have).

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episode and Kristen Eredics for our happy in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

Susan Adcox, who writes about grandparenting for About.com, joins us on the third Wednesday of every month to chat with Catherine about grandparenting issues. This time, they spoke about fitting in fitness as part of their everyday routines, as well as some interesting recent news about aging with a positive attitude. Listen in to find out how they're getting in their daily activity — and how technology fits into the mix. Plus, lots of links for further reading:

+ Why Seniors Should Choose Water Exercise
+ 5 Fun Fitness Activities for Grandparents and Grandchildren
+ Why Grandparents Should Stop Complaining About Aging
+ Safe Routes to School
+ Shine Activity Tracker Review
+ Win Prizes with Your Fitness Tracker

(If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

Famous dances of some sort or another were the focus of this week's Dancing With the Stars, and Catherine and Terri found both the dances and the judging to have no particular rhyme or reason. They chatted about the dances they liked and didn't, the scoring they liked and didn't, the readiness of Paula Deen to go home, and the unfairness of low-scoring anyone who has to dance with a snake. They quickly moved on to something a little more respectable -- the two stage shows Catherine managed to see in one week, Kinky Boots on tour and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Timeon Broadway. (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

Screen content is usually the domain of our Round 2 mini-podcasts on entertainment topics, but for this week's group chat we wanted to revisit the question of screen time for kids in the context of a recent announcement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP is in the process of updating its policy guidelines on screen time for kids (which both Catherine and Amanda have written about), changing it from a hard line of no screens at all for kids under 2 and two hours a day max after that to a wavier line that seems to accept the fact that parents just do not want to go there. We chatted about whether there should be a guideline and how it should be determined, whether your personal pediatrician really cares one way or another, whether anybody in Canada is making these kinds of rules, and how many moms must have beat the AAP about the heads with iPads to inspire this change.

Jumping from the world of pixels to printed paper, Amanda had us wondering whether there are any book characters we wish we could be, and why. Listen to find out who wants to move into that little house on the prairie, who longs to be snoopy little Encyclopedia Brown, who wants to leave her kids home to frolic with the Cat in the Hat, and who thinks the cool mom of Henry and Mudge is about her speed. What book would you like to move into? Share in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week. Catherine mentioned being interviewed for the National Alliance for Youth Sports website; Amanda touted 4 Surprising Benefits of Video Games (and Terri mentioned some surprising benefits of TV watching to go with it); Nicole liked an article about managing your child's screen time; and Terri invited you to Scream Into the Void.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our podcast and Kristin Eredics for our happy in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, go to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

The Insufficient Ice Incident of September 2015 prompted Catherine to take a closer look at sports superstitions. So in this week’s Round 4, she and Charlie Zegers discussed the difference between superstitions and rituals and how they work, both in the major leagues and in youth sports. Charlie writes about sports and also about parenting kids on the autism spectrum. He is also proud to say that he's able to watch major sporting events from any seat in his living room without fear. (If you’re reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, visit http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

[This is an encore presentation of a Parenting Roundabout episode originally released on May 13, 2015. If you listened to it the first time, this is your second chance to follow up on all the resources and ideas mentioned that you just never quite got around to. And if you didn’t listen to it the first time -- hey, it's new to you! Either way, please listen and enjoy.]

Fresh off hosting 75 people for a four-year-old's birthday party with a theme of "Space, Ranbows, and Superheroes," Lexi Walters Wright chats with Terri about present protocols, color-coordinated superhero cupcakes, backyards vs. bowling alleys, how birthday parties have changed over the years, and why you won't find a pinata at her house. For more advice on birthday parties, read Lexi's articles on Understood.org:

+ 3 Reasons Kids May Struggle With Birthday Parties
+ 8 Ways to Make Your Young Child’s Party a Success
+ Common Party Pitfalls for Grade-Schoolers With Learning and Attention Issues

(If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

It was switch-up night on Dancing With the Stars, and also "Judges say what?" night, because the scoring was all the heck over the place. We talked about the dances we liked, the conspiracies we wondered about, and the partnerships we wish could stay switched. Then, we moved on to our promised discussion of Fox's Grandfathered and The Grinder, although neither of us completely did her homework and watched all eps of both. Still, we liked what we saw or heard enough to try again to watch and chat next week. Other fall TV we've been consuming? Mostly stuff from last season still on the DVR and whatever Terri's husband happens to be watching when she walks through the room, but we're working on it. (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

It's October, which brings a lot of change in the parenting world. Along with the seasons changing, and the settling in to the school year, we have Halloween anticipation ... or dread, as the case may be. We discussed our favorite candies to steal from our little trick-or-treaters, our costuming issues, the transition from plastic pumpkin pail to pillowcase, and whether anybody ever comes to our house.

Of course, Halloween isn't the only thing we love and/or hate about this time of year. The weather is changing (at least for some of us); the back-to-school honeymoon is over and teachers/kids are starting to complain; and cheerful reminders are popping up on Facebook that Christmas is coming. We lamented the tragedy that is fall in California when you're used to actual seasons; the onset of child activities that suck up all family time; the cost of wool socks; and the season of East Coast hurricane hysteria. But there are pretty leaves! (And superhero wool socks!)

Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week. Catherine suggested "Healthier Halloween" info on About.com; Amanda wrote an article on "Halloween Challenges for Kids With Sensory Processing Issues — and How to Help" (and Terri added a plug for the simplest possible costumes); Nicole (allegedly trying to be helpful and not stress anyone out, but c'mon) directed us to Halloween ideas on Pinterest; Lexi got to speak with some smart experts about Why Your Teen or Tween May Be Frustrated With School -- and What You Can Say to Help; and Terri offered articles on Halloween help for special needs and a Halloween apology template for those class moms who just Do Not Get It with the restricted diets.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episodes and Kristin Eredics for our happy in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

Each month Meghan Corridan, a pediatric occupational therapist, joins Catherine to share some of what she’s learned from her clients and her own 5-year-old daughter. Now that her daughter is in kindergarten, Meghan is experiencing the joys of homework firsthand, so we talked about how to set the scene and help kids succeed with their at-home work. Find out Meghan’s pro tips for motivating kids and teaching independence (something both moms are still working on with their kids at home). To read more of Meghan’s advice, visit her blog, MAC&Toys, or the site for The Meeting House, where Meghan helps run a supportive after-school program. (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, go to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

It's the most thematically uncomfortable Dancing With the Stars of the season: the dreaded Most Memorable Year episode, where celebs are asked to honor the death of a loved one with a cha cha. The mix of real-life hardship with sequins and fluff is always tricky, and this year's degree of difficulty was kicked up by contestant Alek Skarlatos's personal connection to the shooting at an Oregon college and host Tom Bergeron's absence to be with his ailing father. We chatted about our favorites, those that impressed us less, the awkwardness of judging someone who's just cried on camera, and the dilemma of having a happy personal story amongst the angst. Leaping on to non-dancing topics, Catherine gave her review of A Lego Brickumentary, and Terri bid a sad goodbye to one of her favorite podcasts, Firewall and Iceberg, RIP. (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)

What's your very favorite children's book? The one you read to your kid until it disintegrated? The one that got your child hooked on reading? The one you dug way more than your kid? We compared notes on kid-lit we've loved and loathed, finding many beloved books in common and agreeing to disagree (maybe) on whether the Magic Tree House books are sufficiently annoying to be ban-worthy.

Next, we considered the books that don't exist that we'd love to see -- and particularly the ones we figure we've got it in us to write. If you've ever wanted a children's book about room-cleaning, ideas of things to do while waiting in your car, or a guide to reassure you that you haven't really messed your kid up that badly, just help us find a publisher.

Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week: Amanda suggested we check out the Banned Books Week website, and while you're there, Catherine said to check out The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; Nicole liked Time magazine's list of the 100 Best Children's Books of All Time; and Terri offered a list of 20 Things I Learned from Reading Children’s Fiction.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episodes and Kristin Eredics for our happy in-and-out music.

As a parent of a child with special needs, you'd like to think that the transition to adulthood will be some sort of triumphant finish line to all the advocating and planning and worrying and IEP meetings. Sadly, although the IEP meetings end, the rest of that stuff just keeps on keeping on. On this week's Round 4, Terri chats with monthly contributor Robert Rummel-Hudson about being overwhelmed by the uncertainty of our kids' future and the certainty that we'll have to keep providing direction, even as there's less and less of a graceful way to do that. Come wallow with us in worry, won't you? (If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.)